Texans to join November 9 protests

DALLAS – The North Texas chapter of Jobs with Justice (JwJ) will join in the worldwide protests against the World Trade Organization Nov. 9. The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU) has called for worldwide protests that day because the WTO is scheduled to begin another round of talks in Qatar.

‘Real patriotism and real support of our unions includes questioning and analyzing for ourselves,’ State Rep. Lon Burnam told an Oct. 13 JwJ meeting discussing the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).

The FTAA would give them the legal power to override environmental and labor laws in 34 countries, instead of the three countries now economically dominated by NAFTA. At the same time, layoffs and the economic situation in our nation worsen every day. Industrial production statistics indicated the longest period of downturn since World War II.

The ICFTU called for Nov. 9 demonstrations long before the tragedies of Sept. 11, but they have said that the need for protests continues. The day is set to coincide with the first day of the WTO’s fourth Ministerial Conference in Qatar.

‘At a time when democracy and open society are under such brutal attack, we need to strengthen democracy and global governance,’ Bill Jordan, ICFTU general secretary, said in a statement. ‘We must recommit ourselves to building a world where democracy and rights prevail.’